Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga.
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Chapter Two: Reunited At Last
...
I couldn't breathe again, but it was an entirely different feeling.
"Sam…" the name escaped as a brittle sigh, barely legible over the rain. His heavily lidded eyes held dark purple shadows, widening and flickering to me at the minor movement. I watched his muscles clench as his solid, black stare burrowed into me, rendering me completely immobile.
Hesitant, his chest heaving, Sam swallowed. "L-Leah?" his voice was hoarse. His voice…
That was all it took. The next moment I was leaping mindlessly into his arms, locking my legs around his waist. Sam barely staggered and held me, turning to press my body between him and the side of a maple trunk, hungrily searching, kissing my mouth. There was nothing but the sheer desperation to feel his touch, his body against mine. One of his hands skimmed up my ribcage, stroking the clinging fabric of my saturated shirt and leaving a trail of burning heat in its wake. With a jolt I blinked, my senses renewed, I broke the kiss. But I couldn't let go; my fingers caressed his face, afraid he might disappear. I rested my forehead against his.
"Sam…" I gasped, unable to hide my grin.
"Leah," he was grinning with me, sweeping my doused hair from my face. "Lee-Lee… is it really you?"
"No!" I laughed, my tone rough with passion. "I'm the toothfairy." I quickly swept my gaze over him, careful to examine any wounds, but there was no blood. No horrible gashes. No contusions or chunks of flesh ripped by giant animals. Not a scratch. Nothing. Reacting to my stunned and unresponsive expression, Sam held his fingers under my chin and lifted it to brush his lips against mine.
He smiled smugly. "You chose now to sneak-a-peak at something you've already seen?"
I flushed, realising his line of thought. Jeez. Quick to defend my dignity, I stuttered. "Y-you're not hurt? Fuck, I mean," scoffing, I gestured to the wilderness behind us. "You just fell out of that! And you're… you're…" my eyes drifted downward again and I was incapable of finishing the sentence.
Sam's smile faltered. "I don't feel hurt."
"Sam, you've been missing for two freaking weeks!" At the thought, I clung to him tighter. "Don't go all hard-ass on me. If your hurt, your hurt. I'm not going to think less of you, so don't put on that Mr. Suffering-in-Silence shit. That's just plain stupid―"
"I'm not hurt, Leah," he snapped. A shudder rippled through him.
I froze at his harsh tone, my temper flickered. Slowly, I unwound my legs, my shoes sloshed when they hit the mud. Without a word I uncurled from his grasp, he unwillingly let me, his arms hovering around me as I stripped from my jacket and held it to his waist, covering him. By his gape, my shirt was probably on its way to transparency, or already there.
"C'mon," I tugged at his arm, my soggy jacket barely managed to tie around him. "Let's get your naked, sorry ass inside."
I pulled him forward, noticing the bizarre way he walked.
A gracefulness in how he held himself, as if he was in a new skin.
The storm clouds barely lit the sky from the suns place below the horizon, the house visible and front door unlocked, my palm slipped against the icy handle. I attempted twice more without any luck. Frustrated, I gritted my teeth and balled my hands into fists to bang on the wood, flecks of old paint peeling away. Seth answered, the door cracked open. I shoved the frame till it hit and rebounded off the wall, leading Sam ahead in front of me. "Leah, what is it? Wha―Sam?" Seth exclaimed in disbelief.
"Where's Mum and Dad?" I demanded, ignoring his baffled tone.
Seth continued to appear brainless as I seated Sam on the couch. "They… Mum and Dad… council meeting…"
I swore, hissing a low string of profanities, then sent the Stammering-Seth to fetch spare blankets. He hurled open the sliding wardrobe and tugging free as many woollen covers as he could bear, bringing them back and dropping them by Sam's feet, then bolted back up the narrow hallway.
Despite Sam's protest, I rubbed a thin linen sheet across him, absorbing the cold of the rain. I was surprised to realise he wasn't as soaking as I appeared to be. Most of the water seemed to have disappeared from his skin.
Seth returned, carrying an armful of our Dad's clothes, giving them to Sam with a timid expression.
"Thanks," Sam muttered gratefully.
He slid on an old pair of out-stretched sweats and removed my jacket from around his waist. It slopped to the ground to join the wet sheet we'd used to dry off with. Sam was watching me with eyes squarely focused as they darted from the lounge room to the kitchen as I did, staring as I rummaged through the pantry. "Here," I hurled a chip packet into Sam's waiting hands. "Eat those to hold you off, you must be starving. I'll make something nice and hot."
Or attempt to at least, I added silently.
I wasn't a bad cook, I just never really exceeded in any household activity, but I knew a few somewhat usable things. Putting a large pot on the boil, I sprinkled a clump of salt and plunged in half a packet of pasta. Seth was already equipped with a saucepan and can opener. I watched him work at the corner of my eye as I shoved a tray full of frozen pies into the oven. I toasted some bread and grated cheese, tossing them both into plates, hopefully getting credit for trying.
Seth took over. I was too preoccupied to be humiliated that my younger brother was better in the kitchen than I was. I sat beside Sam, whose eyes hadn't wavered, fiddling absently with the empty chip packet.
I reached out to hold his hand, at my touch Sam cringed away. Trying not to seem hurt, I replaced my hands on my lap.
"Sam," I said gently, at a loss for once. Damn. "Sam… will you tell me where you've been?"
He seemed withdrawn, eerily distant. "This is all too unfamiliar," he mumbled, curling his fingers in his hair and pulling the dangling black locks. "The way you move, your smell, your voice, your words. It's too unpredictable. You were cooking. My mind isn't able… I couldn't have thought you up this well. I couldn't have memorized your exact scent this way. Nothing around you should be so clear…"
It took me a second to comprehend his jumbled thoughts. "Sam, I'm right here. You're not imagining things."
"Leah," he whispered. "I think I've gone insane."
My lips pursed and I snatched his hands into mine, holding them to his cheek.
"Where―have―you―been?"
Mutely, he shook his head. "I-I can't… I won't…"
I sighed. "Alright, it's okay," I leant towards him. My heart retched uneasily, longing to comfort him, afraid of his new invisible boundaries. "It's fine. You don't have to say anything. You're here, and you're safe. That's all I care about."
We were quiet as Seth set the food on the clustered coffee table. The pasta was mixed with sauce, still in the cooking pot, and the pies were golden brown. Sam ate two at a time; a pie in his mouth then spearing down the pasta till all of it was devoured. Seth watched in awe, munching slowly on a piece of toast, it was like watching something horrible but being unable to look away.
I never noticed too much of a difference between this Sam, and the one that went missing a fortnight ago. I did now. This Sam was wider, his muscles thicker, jaw sharper. His glare would circulate the room before falling back on me, as if he was searching for something out of place, a hidden danger or lurking threat. He flinched at contact, at noises, and winced every so often without any reason that I could perceive. He was different, and something was very wrong.
"Maybe…" Seth hissed to me, shrugging. "Should we take him to the hospital or something?"
Sam looked up, eyes wild. "No!"
"Okay." I said quickly, not wanting to upset him. "We'll talk about it later."
With the food gone, Sam stretched experimentally against the couch. I realised I'd forgotten to change; my clothes were only damp now. Sam slanted towards me, coiling his arms around my middle as he rested his head above my chest, closing his eyes. I shifted so we were laying back, Sam draped over me comfortably. I played with his hair quietly, his head tucked under my chin.
Seth was standing behind me, his cheek resting on the sofas padding.
"How's it looking?" he asked anxiously in hushed tones.
I tried to speak without disturbing Sam. "He's exhausted. And running a temperature." The heat of his exposed chest against me was making me sweat, he breathed casually through his mouth, already deeply asleep. "I'm so worried, but at the same time I have to stop myself from doing a victory lap."
"What happened? Where did you find him?"
I smiled, a small smile. "I didn't. He found me." I shot a swift glance at the clock, dangling on the wall. "It's getting late Seth, you have school tomorrow. Thanks for cooking and stuff… and," I trailed off, "you know, for being a pain-in-the-ass and sticking by me no matter what when I was all crazy. You did good, little bro."
There was a pause and I heard Seth's footsteps pace slowly to his room.
"Goodnight, Lee." He said gently.
His door closed, and I concentrated on the hum of Sam's breathing. I was tired, utterly drained, two weeks of little to no rest getting its revenge by prodding my eyes closed with what felt like barbed wire. This, roasting and pinned under Sam's crushing grip, was the most relaxed I'd been in a long time. But I couldn't bring myself to sleep, only watch him. His brow was crinkled, almost like he was having a nightmare. I lost all notice of time, it seemed so very unimportant now.
I hardly heard my parent's arrival, muttering to each other as they entered the house. My mother's loud gasp is what alerted me as she spotted Sam and myself sprawled on the sofa, the lights switched on and I winced at the sudden exposure.
"Shhh!" I hissed, throwing both of them irritated looks.
Harry was set to stunned when Sue threw her hand over his mouth, her eyes narrowed into slits.
"We'll talk about this in the morning," she mouthed to me. I nodded my head in understanding.
She turned off the light, only the dim glow of the moon and the lamp shining from under my parent's door. From the quiet, I could still hear them whispering anxiously to each other. I gazed at Sam, the creases in his forehead smoothed out. I placed a chaste kiss on the crown of his head, allowing my lips to linger on his heated flesh.
And I drifted silently into an embracing slumber.
...
Dawn showered the soft glow that woke me. My eyes opened to see Sam, smiling at me like he did the first and many times after we awoke beside one another. My heart jumped at the recognised gesture, eyelashes brushing my cheeks as I gaze down to his arms still entwined around me. The heat was somewhat acceptable, blankets forgotten, Sam's fever having kept me from freezing halfway through the night.
The smell of sausages wafted and paralysed my senses.
Sue was already up and about―possibly having no sleep at all―as she hurried around the kitchen, frying eggs and bacon in one pan, the sausages sizzling in another. Buttering bread and pouring orange juice, toasting waffles and mixing porridge.
Sue Clearwater; utterly indestructible.
"Good morning," she said briskly as Sam and I stretched. "Come and eat."
She made clear that there were no other options. I didn't complain, I'd barely eaten, and my stomach was growling up a vengeance. Sam pulled me up with him, moving so fluently it was almost creepy, still without a shirt, more at ease being half-naked in front of my mother than he should be. Not that I was complaining. He seemed more sculpted, as if he aged and sprouted a couple more biceps overnight. Yeah, definitely not complaining.
Harry and Seth were on edge. I guess it freaked them. Sam ate two thirds of everything, and what he didn't eat, I did. Sue was pleased. Seth was as considerate as always and had some cereal from the pantry. Harry glanced ruefully at the empty plate bacon, but didn't mull once Mum began frying more sausages. The only conversation that passed was the small, meaningful brushed Sam made along the length of my back to ensure himself my presence remained.
"So Samuel," my mother could never be quiet for long. "How are you feeling?"
He swallowed a mouthful of juice and shot me a look I couldn't quite decipher. "I'm okay." He stated.
"Did you get to the hospital alright...?" she prodded.
"He didn't want to go to the hospital." I answered bluntly.
My scalp prickled as her gaze zeroed on me, lips pursed. I was more than aware she didn't want me interrupting her interrogation. She spoke in a carefully disguised sugary voice, her fingers knotted together to rest under her chin with her elbows resting on the table. "Well, did you ever think of what he needs, instead of what he wants?"
Sam growled. "Leah took very good care of me."
His feverish hand snatched mine defensively. Sue was dazed into a brief silence. Then she smiled, one of her bizarre approvals. "I'm sure she did," she continued, the sweet voice somewhat mellowed. "But a simple check-up won't do you any harm. Haven't you noticed anything peculiar? Symptoms of shock perhaps?" She turned to me. "Have you, Leah?"
I didn't want mention his temperature, neither did he.
And apparently neither did Seth, who stuffed the last of his cereal into his mouth and dumped his bowl in the sink, deciding it best to flee the room while he still could. Lucky bastard.
"Uh, I'll take Sam home now. Mrs. Uley is very worried about him." I said, scraping my chair against the floor. It was in Sam's best interest I didn't mention that everyone in the tribe, including his mother, thought he was dead. A conversation I'd rather avoid.
"Fine." Sue acknowledged. I made a face; this discussion clearly wasn't over.
...
Sam kept his hand pressed against mine. The walk to his house was undisturbed; everyone was too half-asleep to really pay any attention to people who were supposably dead strutting their stuff down the road. I hoped that Sam's funeral papers and flowers of sympathy were tucked safely out of sight until I could dispose of them in an extremely thorough manner. Preferably with lots of fire.
I tried to edge away, reluctant to intrude on the private moment as a groggy Emma Uley answered the door and began blubbering uncontrollably, clumsily embracing her son. But Sam held my hand firmly so I stood awkwardly to the side, shifting from foot to foot, while I compared the colossal size differences that made Mrs. Uley almost child-like compared to Sam as she sobbed into his chest.
Through sheer talent alone that only Leah Clearwater can manage, I manoeuvred the two into the house while they hugged.
Mrs. Uley cried for ten straight minutes before she could say a legible sentence. Constantly patting Sam's limbs and sniffling into a box of aloevera tissues, it was fifteen minutes before she realised my presence, but that only made her sob harder as she pulled me into a familiar squeeze. "Thank you…" she whispered to me, wheezing out breaths. "Thank… you… so much!"
I smiled wryly at Sam as he sat wedged between us, lost for words.
Nothing―even in my sleep-deprived, bone-crushed, dreamlike state―could describe my happiness.
...
Days passed, and I had taken in upon myself to call everyone at the police station, forest ranger cabins, neighbours and unfortunate tribe residents I ran into on the street, to smugly tell them that the man they gave up for dead was alive and well―specifically, the gorgeous hunk I had on my arm. It made me feel better to listen to their nervous stuttering. Sam had barely left my side. He was afraid to let me out of his sight.
And I didn't protest, because I was terrified of the exact same thing.
It remained an unsolved mystery of Sam's previously missing whereabouts, and his measures to keep it that way would get more elaborate each time around, until he would flat-out refuse to even branch the subject. I had mentioned it a few times, but Sam seemed quite content to pretend the whole thing never happened.
During the long hours sneaking out of public eye, I could never pinpoint Sam's bizarre attitude.
And whenever I tried to speak my thoughts out loud, it just made me sound paranoid. How can I explain to someone that my boyfriend desperately avoided changing emotion? Or he constantly walked around in shorts with everything else bare in the middle of Washington? Not to mention his fever that could roast freaking marshmallows.
But none of it mattered. I care about Sam more than anything else. I would do anything for him, even against my better judgement. I pleaded with him to go to a doctor; it had gotten to the point of demanding. His temperature a constant worry of mine. He claimed his perfect health, and I knew I could never put him through anything that would upset him.
I stifled a yawn, curling up beside him. It was no secret that he spent the night at my house anymore.
"Well, goodnight." I pecked his lips and laid my head on the pillow.
"Why?" Sam blinked. "It's early."
"I have school tomorrow." I stated obviously.
His expression petrified me. His eyes clouded over and his hands hooked into claws as they gripped my shoulders. He shook his head in horror, for a moment he couldn't speak. "No, Leah, no! Please, don't leave me!" he begged desperately, his whole frame quivering. "You can't leave me! I need you. I need you. You can't go! Please, don't go! Don't leave me!"
My breath escaped me. I blinked away the moisture that welled at the sight of his pain.
"Okay," I embraced him consoling as he clung to my middle. "It's okay, I'm not going anywhere."
I could never deny him anything that would cause him comfort.
I woke up late that night and saw the silent tears streaming down his face, full of blind panic and fear as he stared up at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. I didn't speak as he curled up against me, and I held him as he slept, to keep the nightmares away.
...
The week continued, and people began talking of how I had officially dropped out of high school. I didn't want to let their shit stories bother me, but they did. My education had always been important to me and something that always worked to my advantage, so overhearing my mother answering the phone calls of brainless big-mouths asking if I was rebelling―or impregnated―just so they could have something juicy to spread around the reservation pissed me off to no end.
I didn't want to speak to Sam about it; the pain it brought to him was too much to bear, and I would give up anything just to see him as happy as he'd been. Now I settle for the slight simmer in his eyes, something that only my constant presence gave him. Shadows of his past joy.
But I couldn't shut it out. I would never get into college. I would never pursue a career. Sam and I would never have the future we planned if I didn't finish school. We would be stuck here, in this dank place, where our only option would be to take up a low wage jobs where no one would take us seriously because they'd most likely have seen us in fucking diapers. I would be stuck here, without a complete education, just like my mother.
"Sam…" I spoke bluntly. "I need to go to school."
He looked up, alarmed. "No," he said quickly.
"Listen, okay?" I frowned, folding my arms tightly across my chest. "I need to go. It's been over a week, and isn't that enough to prove to you that I'm not going to up and disappear like some freakish hallucination? You are not insane. Besides, I'll just be gone for a couple of hours. No big deal."
Sam was quiet for a long time, his eyes to the floor, contemplating. "I don't like it." He whispered simply.
I grimaced. "I don't exactly plan on doing a happy dance or something either."
"Then stay with me," he pleaded softly.
"Hey," I said, curling his locks around my fingers, "I'll be back before you know it."
He closed his eyes, breathing deeply through his nose. His jaw clenched and I heard his teeth snap together. He glared at me, a dull, black stare. I was afraid he was going to leave, or yell, or disappear again. But he spoke in a deathly quiet voice. "I will take you in the morning, and I will meet you at the gate the second that bell sounds. Not a minute later, Leah, do you hear me?"
"Yes," I mumbled, my victory tainted by his dark gaze. "I hear you."
"And you have to promise you'll stay safe. Not one little scratch on you."
"Uh-huh."
He was quiet again, then he murmured. "I don't like not being there. Not being able to protect you."
I shivered at the seriousness in his voice. "Protect me from what?"
He shook his head, the seriousness softened and he gave me a small, lopsided smile. "From yourself, you silly girl. How can I be sure you won't run into a door if I'm not there to watch you?" I detected an edge of hysteria behind his teasing tone. He clearly wasn't worried about stupid doors at all.
...
"Oh Godammit, Sam! This won't work unless you let go of me."
"I'm sorry," he mumbled and yet he held me tighter, moulding me to him. "Bye, then."
I sighed. "Must we go through it again? I'm telling you―and for this I don't need a high school education―you can't say goodbye to someone then continue clinging like this. Call me insane, but I think it kinda defeats the purpose. Goodbye means goodbye. Now," I pressed my hands against his chest to pry myself away, a smirk quirked my lips. "Goodbye."
Sam buried his face in my hair. "I'm sorry." He repeated, gradually unknotting his fingers.
I absorbed his ominous expression, how his mouth pulled unhappily.
"Perhaps this isn't such a good idea," I mused while he finished unwinding his grip and took a large step in my opposite direction. His pleasant warmth deteriorated as soon as he moved away. "Maybe we should wean you off gently with a few stand-in girlfriends with similar breasts and daycare programs." I taunted lightly, he shook his head as I spoke.
"Your hilarious, Leah. Go to school now." He tilted my chin and kissed my brow. "I love you."
"Do you love me, or my boobs?"
Sam rolled his eyes.
I shifted awkwardly. Clearly he wasn't in a joking mood. "Um, so I'll meet you right here after lessons are over." I gestured to the muddy patch directly below my feet and, for added effects, scratched into the ground a small 'x' with the heel of my sneakers. "Is that okay with you?"
"I'll be here." He said tightly, folding his arms.
The way his muscles clenched was almost hypnotic.
The warning bell rang from the building. Despite it being my argument, I didn't want to leave.
I turned and quickly stalked away, if I stayed a second longer I might dive into his arms and beg him to take me home, making sure I never do anything this stupid again. How stupid. Once I was safely out of the mist drizzling outside, I peered through the fogged window. Sam was gone. My heart plunged and landed somewhere near my knees.
"Miss Clearwater?" The voice startled me. I turned to face its equally surprised owner.
In the middle of the front room was my grey-haired science professor, staring as if I'd sprouted an extra head, his notes splayed messily in his arms. "Err… Mr. Oakley…?" I acknowledge unsurely, disturbed by his expression.
He seemed to recomposed, clearing his throat and plastering on an aggravated frown.
"You are late for roll call class, Miss Clearwater. Hop to it, or it's a detention." His threat didn't seem very official with half his papers worming their way from his grip and his glasses dangling on the edge of his nose. I don't think he realised his hairpiece was upside-down.
I blinked. "Right... yeah."
"Yeah, what?" he questioned sternly.
I struggled back a snort, managing to hold a serious expression.
"Yeah, sir."
"Good. Off you go, Leah."
Shaking my head, I walked leisurely down the hall, feeling his stare burning holes in my sweater. Surely my reappearance wasn't that shocking? I'm no scholarship-earning student like Sam had been, but I'm still pretty up there. I didn't ditch school too often, nor show any signs of leaving the minute the opportunity arose. I was the best runner this place had ever seen. I'd like to think I gave this tiny school a spark of personality. Everyone knew my name by reputation alone. Though, I never said most of it was good reputation.
Boldly, as if it was what I'd been doing everyday for the past month, I stepped over the threshold and into the classroom. One of the things about an upbringing on the reservation meant that pretty much everyone grew up together. I could read all the reactions of the room without difficulty. Most had a similar expression as Mr. Oakley.
I sat at the end of a table and rested my head on my arm, choosing to ignore the few hissing questions aimed in my direction from the senior class, and those a year or two younger than us. Our school is small; most of the grades are squished together based on academic performance.
A hand resting on my shoulder made me look up. Jared stood beside me, his expression carefully composed. I hadn't seen him since the afternoon he took me home from the woods; I had been a complete mess. He removed his hand and attempted a casual smile, to disguise himself from the rest of the class that had swarmed on the opposite end of the room, knowing better than to disturb me, chattering to each other.
Through his smile, Jared asked bluntly. "So how have you been Clearwater?"
"Just fine, thanks." I replied curtly.
"And how's Sam?"
He spoke so quietly now I had trouble hearing him. "He's fine."
"That's great," he said, his eyes flickered away before returning to me. He sighed, dropping the casual-conversation exterior. "Okay, look Leah, I've wanted to speak with you lately, but you've been nowhere in sight. There's a lot of shit going on, and I think it's about time someone clued you in. I've heard some things, and... and, well, Sam―"
"Thanks for the concern," I snapped, "but I don't need it."
I threw my bag over my shoulder and breezed out of the room. Too late, I was pissed off, and without the buzz of voices, I was alone in my thoughts. Was Jared really thinking Sam was up to no good? Did he think I need to be clued in on the activities of my boyfriend? I don't fucking think so.
While churning around my aggravated thoughts, the bell rang, and I tested my patience capability in order to ignore all the stares I was receiving, floating in my imagination of being reunited with Sam after school. I snapped only once, hissing to an ogling bunch of eighth graders, "take a picture, you little fuckers, it lasts longer!" I felt a little better as they scampered away, terrified.
Classes went quickly, and, after receiving a hefty stack of catch-up papers from each subject, I was one of the last to reach the lunch room. Trying to shove all the extra work into my bag was annoying.
"Oi, Clearwater! Leah!" the call came from a table near the dessert section, a small group waving towards me. "Hey, Leah!"
Lisa Malone-Bell, Anna Collins and Shiye Rice were all grinning at me. "Well, welcome back to the land of those who own telephones and other such communication devices," Shiye commented sarcastically, his short, black hair flattened by a baseball cap. "It's nice to know you're alive I guess, don't you think?" He turned to Lisa and Anna, both girls rolled their eyes.
Anna joined in on the guilt-trip. "Yeap. Feels good to be back in the loop,"
"So sorry," I drawled as I pulled out a chair from under the table. "In my defence, I did go insane."
"I can imagine," Lisa said in her small, breathe-quiet voice, immediately sympathetic. "Sorry, we were being insensitive. We were just excited to see you is all. We figured if we laughed about it a bit, it might make the better of the really crap situation." She smiled timidly. "How are you?"
I groaned. "Why is everyone asking me that?"
"Because we haven't seen or heard from you in weeks?" Anna offered with a shrug.
"I'd rather not talk about it," I said, twisting the cap of my water bottle and taking a swig.
"Ouch," Shiye winced dramatically. "And we're out of the loop once again."
"Different subject?" offered Anna, sweeping her blonde highlights from her face.
"Right," Lisa said with a nod. "Um… Kim is sitting with us today, if you guys don't mind."
"I don't mind, we need to start interviewing possible Leah-replacements anyway," Shiye joked, winking at me.
As if on cue, Kim could be seen hesitantly pushing her way out of the crowd around the dessert section, a tray of sandwiches and pudding clutched tight in her hand, her chest puffed out, slightly out of breath. She smiled and lifted one arm in greeting. "Hey you guys, sorry I'm la―urgh!" Kim recoiled as someone from the dessert swarm elbowed her, sending the carefully balanced tray ricocheting into the air, the sandwiches on the floor and the cup of pudding landing splattered on my sweater. I blinked at the chocolately blob in disbelief. Jeez, could my life get any shittier?
"O-oh no! I'm sorry, Leah," Kim stuttered, her face flushed as she nervously handed over her napkin.
I stripped away the layer of clothing. It had seeped through to my blouse. "No worries, it's not your fault, it was the asshole behind you. And the dickhead owes me a new jumper," I stated, scrubbing the pudding off my sweater, glowering. "I'm going to go wash it off."
"Do you want us to come with you?" Lisa asked, setting down her apple.
"No, you can eat your lunch. I'll be back in a sec,"
I walked off, hearing Kim still mumbling apologises until I was out of earshot. I turned down the hall and pushed open the bathroom door with my back, since my hands were now coated with pudding, my bag awkwardly slung around my elbow, my ruined sweater folded and held up by my upper arm pressed against my side. I dumped the load in one of the stall's hooks, reaching over the sink to wash my hands before moistening a scrunch of toilet paper to scrub against my blouse.
The paper ripped. I swore and tossed it into the waste basket beside the mirror and re-entered the stall for an extra handful. It automatically swung shut behind me. Another door creaked opened, the entrance, high-heeled footsteps and voices giggled from behind the stall; I froze as the name bounced off the tiled walls.
"Sam Uley?" One of the voices, I recognised to be a senior girl, Nadie Wills, exclaimed. "No way!"
"It's true," her companion insisted. "Remember he disappeared a couple weeks ago? Julie told me that Frank said he heard from Steve that he fell hard from the drugs. Couldn't remember his own name or something, and ending up in Seattle jail for a few days. Poor fucker."
"No fucking way!" She repeated in awe. "I just heard he was selling the stuff."
"Jesus Christ, you're both wrong," a new voice commented, but I could barely hear them. Blood had rushed to my head, swirling all ration thought. I could taste something bitter in my mouth, like sucking on copper. Sam on drugs? Seriously? What the fuck were these fuckers smoking? "Haven't you seen him lately?" The girl continued. "Well I certainly have. Looks like drugs to me. But anyway, have you seen him and Clearwater? Wondered why she hasn't been to school? Probably trying to thoroughly dispose of the evidence or something."
Dammit Leah, don't do anything stupid, I begged myself. Shut your mouth for once…
They'll just add another mask of make-up and leave, right?
Nadie and the other girl went quiet. "What evidence, Maria?" Nadie whispered, taking the bait.
"Well, first I thought Sam joined some wannabe gang or whatever, got a little carried away, but no." Maria answered pleasantly. "I heard Uley's been sleeping around behind Clearwater's back and she caught him at it. You know how Leah Clearwater is, and if you ask me she's the jealous type. Someone said he tried to bolt with the girl―"
Oh, fuck this.
I shoved the door and stormed towards the mirrored counter where the three had forgotten all about their lipstick. My teeth gritted as they stared at me in surprise and, I noted pleasingly, more than a little horror. "Please," I snapped. "Finish that sentence, I fucking dare you."
Maria was the first to compose herself.
She raised one plucked eyebrow. "Piss off, Clearwater. We're just saying the facts."
"You wouldn't know the facts if they knocked you on your ass!" I resorted bitterly. "This isn't any of your business, so butt out and don't say another word about it if you know what's good for you." To my shock I recognised the unnamed girl as Shiye's younger sister, Karen.
"Are you threatening us?" Karen whispered.
"That's one way to look at it," I shrugged.
"Be careful, Clearwater," Maria hissed. "You play with fire, you'll get burnt."
"By what, your cheap-ass hairdryer?" I sneered.
Nadie tapped her heel against the tiles. "Let's go," she said impatiently, eyeing the exit. Karen eagerly followed her outside, Maria close behind them. The door shut and I let out a deep breath, my eyes closed, before collecting my things and leaving, the stain on my shirt far from my mind. Making my way back down the hallway, passing the office towards the lunch room, I heard the voices of my classmates―their chattering had become eerily clear.
"Drugs is what I reckon, don't cha think?"
"―arrested for possession―"
"Shit! That doesn't sound like the same Sam Uley…"
"―and then knocked up some chick!"
"―just like his father, you know. Like they say, the apple doesn't fall far―"
"Oh, poor Leah. I could never handle that…"
"… and beats her… he's an alcoholic, you know what the Uley men are like…"
I closed my eyes and walked faster, trying to escape the lies from the faces I passed. Lies. Fucking lies. In my brisk pace I spilt the pile of clothes and papers in my hands. I bent to retrieve them, when I heard them again; Maria was leaning against her locker a couple feet away. "Sam is such a pussy. The only smart thing he's ever done is cheat on that stupid bitch."
Before I could control myself, my fist made vicious contact with her nose.
And I have to admit, the crack was pretty satisfying.
People passing by stopped and gaped as Maria wobbled to regain her balance from the blow, staring at me in disbelief as she slapped her palm over her upper lip to either stop the blood or cover the ugliness, I wasn't sure. No one speaks about Sam like that. I smirked to myself, allowing a brief, menacing grin. "You play with fire, you'll get burnt." I said tauntingly.
Maria scowled and threw herself at me with a loud shriek, instantly tearing at my hair while I charged forward and slammed her against the lockers. I heard cheers of encouragement from all around me, like a football stadium. Maria pulled back her hand and slapped me. Grimacing, I tackled her to the floor and pressed her face against the ground by her pigtails. Her arms flayed about, searching for something to hit. I ducked out of the way and twisted her left one behind her back until she cried out in pain. Her heel kicked up and dug into my back, as it buried deeper I felt moisture sprung to my eyes from the ache. I pulled tighter at her arm, teeth locked together.
"What the hell's going on here?"
I hadn't really thought that the large crowd gathered around us would obviously provoking the interest of the teachers.
"Leah!" Mr. Oakley exclaimed. "Get off of her!" Grudgingly, I let go of Maria's arm, allowing her to sit up. She rubbed her wrist in tears. "Both of you to the office, now!" he barked, turning to the crowd. "What do you think you lot are looking at? Get out of the way! Move along, or it's detention! Move!"
Mindlessly, I stood and followed them from the hallway.
I felt that numbness radiated up my cheek, pins and needles, as I marched solemnly towards the staffroom.
...
I held the icepack against my face as I sloshed moodily through the rain, gnawing my teeth together in attempt to stop their chattering. I noticed the figure leaning by the gate, his arms crossed and shaking, a vivid expression plastered on his face as he took in my appearance. There was no time for me to be surprised by his presence; I mean shit, for all I know he could have been waiting here since I first left. I still couldn't keep the shock from my voice.
"Sam?" I called through the downpour, though we were only meters apart.
"Leah," he growled. "What happened?"
I had no trouble hearing his furious roar. "U-uh, I got into a little disagreement. It's just a―" I froze, his words from last night dawning on me. I couldn't say scratch. He'd kill me. "Err… I'm fine. Fuck, I'm more than fine. The nurse just gave me ice for insurance reasons, you know. And they sent me home early to have a think about what I did."
He was quivering, his fist clenched. "What did you do?"
"I punched Maria Nelson right in the face." I blurted out. "Dumb bitch deserved it."
"Did she hurt you?" he demanded.
"No," I didn't dare remove the icepack in fear he might notice the swelling.
"You're lying." He snarled.
"Am not," I scoffed stubbornly. "I would have knocked her out cold if Oakley hadn't stepped in to save the day. Besides, the reason this started was because I was defending you!" I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, it was stupid of me, I'll admit, but I'd do it again."
Wordlessly he snatched my hand, so the icepack had no choice but to fall to the ground. But Sam didn't scrutinise my face like I thought, instead he held my fingers close under his eyes. "Its blood!" he exclaimed, letting my arm drop back to my side. "Blood, Leah! You have fucking blood under your fingernails. Now, tell me again it wasn't fucking serious."
I didn't have a chance to ask how the hell he knew that. "Well, it's not my blood." I insisted.
"Oh really?" He was shaking now, each word felt like a stab in the chest.
"Yeah, really." I said firmly.
He was quiet, my eyes softened, and I reached out to stop his trembling frame.
"It's alright, I'm fine," I whispered, brushing his exposed skin. "Stop shaking,"
I meant it as reassurance, but Sam's eyes widened as he too seemed to just notice the tremors rocketing through him. I saw something flash through his face. Fear? Panic? I wasn't sure, because the next thing I knew Sam had pulled away and bolted up the street, towards the forest. I stood there completely immobile for ten long seconds, terror of the all-too-familiar scene replaying in my head.
With a jerking movement, I raced after him. "Sam, no, wait!"
He ran on ahead, practically vibrating, passing through the forest line and dodging the moss-covered trees. No, no! I couldn't lose him again! I ran on. He had never been faster than me before. The rain continued, lightened by the trees, but it was darker and hard to see. I felt something catch my backpack, wrenching me backwards, briefly winding me.
Damn, fuck, shit! I cursed, ripping away from the branch.
I dropped the bag, prepared to pursue, but he was gone, leaving me leaning against the tree, panting and completely petrified.
Second chapter, done! Whoa, that took me a while. I've had it done up to the fight scene for weeks, but I was never really happy with it, so I've deleted pages of it until I got this result. Sorry it took so long, but the next couple of chapters should be a breeze. I'm on holidays now, so plenty of time to write! Enjoy, and let me know your thoughts!
Please read and review!
Hazel-Buttafly
